National Animal Poison Prevention Week on March, 2021: Staff Infection Questions?
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National Animal Poison Prevention Week 2021.
Staph is short for "staphylococcus", a bacteria. There are over 30 types of Staph bacteria that can cause infections, but staphylococcus aureus causes most infections including skin infections, pneumonia, food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome and blood poisoning.
Skin infections are the most common staph infections. They begin like pimples or boils and may spread. They are highly contagious, meaning they are very easily passed to another person or animal. The area may be red, swollen, and painful.
Impetigo is a crusting staph or strep infection of the skin common in children and often affects the face near there mouth and nose, as well as the arms and legs. It is very contagious, very common in small children, very "catchy". It is usually easy to diagnose and easy to treat with antibiotics.
Cellulitis is swollen, hot area of skin that usually begins as boils and then can spread into the lymph system and turn into a life-threatening illness. If the infection is mild, it can be treated easily. More intense cases may require Intravenous antibiotics or require hospitalization to prevent the infection entering the blood stream and causing life-threatening infection. The area can be tender and feverish. There can be pus and drainage. The person may feel generally ill. Any part of the body can be affected.
About 1/4 to 1/3 of the population are staph carriers, carrying staph bacteria in their noses, with or without symptoms and passing it to others as they go. Staph infections of the nose may not pose a threat unless the person is about to have surgery or keeps getting staph infections on other parts of their body. In this case, the nose may be treated with a anti-bacterial ointment for a week or so and the person may take oral antibiotics to prevent major surgical complications.
Staph infections are common and can happen to anyone. They are easily caught and usually easily treated. The biggest danger is that they can get into the blood stream and cause life-threatening illness if not treated.
If you are someone you know has a staph infection, wash their pillows and blankets and personal items in hot water, drytheir clothes in a dryer, wipe off areas they are in contact with with bleach water or other bacteria killing product such as hibiclens, do not share wash clothes, towels, or oth er personal items, and make sure everyone is practicing good personal hygiene and hand-washing to prevent spreading the infection.
Hope this answers your question. If not, look it up on the net. Medline Plus, WebMD, MayoClinic, National Center for Disease Control, and other sites all have very reliable and understandable explanations about the disease,the symptoms, the treatment, and prevention.
Good luck.
Staph infections can be prevented with hand-washing, and by keeping any open wounds covered with a thin layer of ointment such as petrolatum/vaseline and a bandaide until healed. People can get staph infections from other people, pets, and off shared items such as towels, wash clothes, pillow cases, etc. Do not share personal items with people, keep your skin healthy and clean by washing and moisturzing to keep up a barrier from infection.
Some staph infections such as MRSA are resistant to antibiotics, making them hard to treat. You always need to assume others are infectious and able to pass infection on to you, and take precautions such as hand washing, avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth, and wash your hands before eating or touching your face, etc.
Staph is easily diagnosed and usually easily treated with a culture, and a week to ten day course of antibiotics such as Keflex and other antibiotics.
